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Crash Avoidance Systems – “Great Scott!”

I remember watching Back to the Future as a kid and being in awe of the futuristic capabilities of Doc Brown’s DeLorean: the hiss of the butterfly doors opening up, huge spoilers that looked like a set of jet engines, hovercraft technology and a sleek spaceship-like stainless steel design – just to name a few.

Although we don’t have flying cars in 2015 as the movie projected, it’s fun now to look back and see what people perceived as the future of car technology. Don’t be disappointed however, the Crash Avoidance technology we have in our vehicles today is still quite impressive.

Take electronic stability control for example. This system joins others like traction control and anti-lock brakes to help make vehicles safer and better able to work with the driver to avoid a crash. Some are even equipped with adaptive cruise control that will gently steer a wayward vehicle back to its lane or apply brakes if the computer system detects a possible crash.

Computers are interacting with not just the moving vehicle’s mechanics but with its surrounding environment as well. These applications provide a ton of additional features that assist a driver in real-time, some of which include: applying brakes, adjusting steering, disengaging cruise control systems, cutting engine power, providing vehicle performance diagnostics and more.

A key point to consider is that although electronic systems like these are not considered wear items - which don’t themselves require routine maintenance – the components within the vehicle do.

For example: when a vehicle is on the road for the first time it has new tires, brakes, suspension, shocks and struts and steering components which are all in excellent condition. This ensures that if the crash avoidance system is needed – it will deliver the best performance that it was designed to provide. How? Well its performance is based on having the maximum grip from the new tires, best body control from the new ride control system and most effective stopping power from the new brakes.

That means that in order for the crash avoidance systems to work at their best, or highest likelihood of intervening in a collision – the wearable parts of your vehicle need to be routinely checked and replaced when needed, by your trusted NAPA Service Advisor.

We may not be able to fill up our tank with “Mr. Fusion”, but by giving our cars the quality parts and recommended service from a NAPA AutoCare center, we’ll be able to keep our high-tech crash avoidance systems operating at “Great Scott”!